Brew Camp Closed Due To Licensing Snafu; Expects To Re-Open Soon

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 4, 2012 9:40PM

Photo credit: Chicagoist/Roger Kamholz

Brew Camp, the North Center homebrew supply store, announced Monday they were closed temporarily while they worked through a licensing issue. A post on Brew Camp's Facebook page explains the situation.

We did our best to understand the city's requirements when we started up. Over the past year, representatives at both the city and state levels have expressed that they don't have a clear picture of "how to deal with homebrew shops" because we "aren't a typical business." There are hundreds of bars, restaurants and grocery stores throughout the city-all of which have clearly established licensing protocol-and only a handfull homebrew shops.

We are, essentially, your grocery store. And you should be protected when you buy stuff that's going through your body. This is a good thing.

Brew Camp went on to take full responsibility for their situation and, in a rarity for businesses that deal with the city's labyrinthine licensing protocols, said that the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Buildings have all been accommodating throughout this in order for Brew Camp to obtain the proper licensing and re-open. The Facebook message ends with a plea for calm from customers.

This is going to take some time. Don't storm the castle just yet - let's give this a chance to work out. The city is just making sure we're all safe. We're all anxious to get back to work, but we're more interested in making sure we do it right.